Job Discussion Forums

OldandNew · Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 55 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

THANKS TO ALL WHO REPLY
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Background:
-->Age 63, U.S. citizen, Native English speaker, attractive, good health-physique, upbeat, blah-blah-blah. Social Security retirement $1.118 per month.
--> Bachelor’s in accounting (from an online from a regionally accredited university)
--> I have TEFL certificate (140-hr), Teach Busn Eng, TESOL Tech, and can easily accrue more as needed.
--> Working on my Master’s in TESOL (online from a regionally accredited university).
--> I have traveled to over 25 countries on 5 continents. I lived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for 9 months (2006).
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My Problem: In 2003, I was arrested and convicted of three misdemeanor counts for drug possession.
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Question 1: Is this a deal breaker as far as getting a PART-TIME job in Vietnam?
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Question 2: If I have these records expunged or seal will it help me?
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Question 3: Is $1300 USD per month do-able for a simple/comfortable life-style in a major city? . . If not, how much is?

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Most anybody can show up in VN and take a stab at teaching English. There's plenty demand in HCMC and Ha Noi, moderate demand elsewhere.

Basic cost of living (rent, food, etc) is still pretty low, probably on par with what you experienced in Cambodia but with cheaper, better food.

The real question is: "Is Vietnam for you?"

If you've been to VN, then you know how annoying, boring and often ridiculous life can be. Many arrive with the expectation of somewhere between a year in VN to forever, but find themselves leaving after 6 months. In that case, try somewhere else. VN is not the only country in the world.

Dream_Seller · Joined: 01 Feb 2014 Posts: 78 Location: China

To keep it simple you are already getting about $1100 coming to you...then yes I think you can easily scratch up a few hundred dollars more at mom and pop shops. You won't have any guidance or support or perhaps even books. The more expat you live the less money you have. That choice is up to you.

1-1 teaching does not really work in VN. Imagine that the rich can actually afford 1-1 teaching but they just send their kids to language centers instead. They also are more apt to pay a Vietnamese teacher the same native speaker rate instead of hiring a native speaker. So, lots of cultural barriers.

I wouldn't teach online as the pay is pretty low, even lower than what you could get at the mom and pop shops.

Your biggest hurdle is that the market is 70% young learners. It takes considerable energy to teach kids, especially with large class sizes. Instead, you might reconsider teaching online again.

In my opinion, live in Guadalajara,MX enjoy a culture that is not significantly different than your own while still being close to USA if needed. I'm still a newbie, still learning as well. It is much harder to live here than it would be in Mexico.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

OldandNew · Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 55 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

OldandNew · Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 55 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

Dream_Seller · Joined: 01 Feb 2014 Posts: 78 Location: China

Just look at the entire thread on Mexico and see how deep it goes. Then look at the Philippines tread. Teaching online is about it. People don't live in Mexico for the money. Some are banking but many are teaching there and enjoy living there. Also PI defiantly has its perks but not the teaching demand, and at age 63. Up to you Very Happy

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

OldandNew · Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 55 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

schwa · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 164 Location: yap

Most countries will ask for a criminal record check. Inability to provide a clean one (especially regarding drugs) will definitely cut into your options.

OldandNew · Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 55 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

I suspect any kind of record, however trivial, will limit your ability to get the correct paperwork, Work Permits etc. Drugs is one of those things that many people think is far from trivial as well. Maybe they are overreacting, but that is the way it is.

But - many do work without a work permit. This rather makes a mockery of the criminal record check. It is just a$$ covering IMO. Besides, plenty of the worst kind of offenders have never been convicted or even arrested so present a clean criminal record check anyway....

I doubt you need a work permit to teach online. But I could be wrong.

TRH · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 340 Location: Hawaii

Mingvase · Joined: 19 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

I've just received my criminal record check in the post and it's clean now. It's only a basic check otherwise an enhanced check would show up my assault conviction as well as arrests. Can't you get a basic disclosure in the US? That really sucks if your drugs offence isn't spent by now. It would be in the UK.